Palliative care treats death and dying as a normal part of life. The treatment and care provided do not aim to make you live longer, they try to make what time you have as best as it can be.
The palliative care team provides services to improve your quality of life throughout the stages of advanced cancer. This may include managing pain and other symptoms. Some studies show that if symptoms such as pain are controlled, people will feel better and may live longer or be able to tolerate cancer treatment for longer.
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Finding hope
Some people avoid palliative care because they hope that a cure will be found for their cancer. But having palliative care does not mean you have to stop seeing your doctor or having treatment, or give up hope.
People with advanced cancer may have palliative care for several months or years and continue to enjoy many aspects of life in that time. Some people take pleasure in completing projects, spending time with friends, or exploring new interests. Others make sense of their situation through a creative activity, such as art, music or writing.
You may find that you focus on the things that are most important to you, such as feeling valued, having meaningful relationships or receiving effective pain relief.
As the disease progresses, your goals may change. Palliative care may also help you to be more mobile, or control your pain, so you can achieve more. For example, you might hope to live as comfortably as you can for as long as possible or you may have some unfinished business to complete, such as planning a family trip. Palliative care may help you set and achieve goals.
Voluntary assisted dying
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is when a person with an incurable, life-limiting condition or illness chooses to end their life with the assistance of a doctor or health practitioner – using specially prescribed medicines from a doctor. “Voluntary” means that it is the choice of the unwell person to end their life.
VAD is not part of any palliative care services. However, if you are considering this option, know that palliative care remains available to you right up until the end of your life, no matter how you die. Many people accessing VAD will want palliative care as well, and that’s okay.
At the time of going to print (December 2023), laws around VAD have commenced in all Australian states. VAD remains unlawful in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory at the time of going to print (December 2023).
VAD is only available to people who meet all the strict conditions and follow certain steps as required by the laws in their state or territory.
It is essential to check the latest updates and know the law and rules around making this choice. Laws and rules around VAD may be different in the state or territory where you live.
For information and updates on VAD for your state or territory, visit Queensland University of Technology’s End of Life Law in Australia.
→ READ MORE: Who will coordinate my care?
More resources
Prof Meera Agar, Palliative Care Physician, Professor of Palliative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, IMPACCT, Sydney, NSW; Anne Booms, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care, Icon Cancer Centre Midlands, WA; Nicola Champion, Consumer; John Clements, Consumer; Dr Alexandra Clinch, Palliative Medicine Specialist and Deputy Director, Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC; A/Prof Jaklin Eliott, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, SA; Dr Jemma Gilchrist, Clinical Psychologist, Mind My Health, NSW; McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, VIC; Caitlin MacDonagh, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Palliative Care, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Dr Roya Merie, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW; Dr Deidre Morgan, Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia.
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